Mobility of antifreeze proteins as a key factor in their use to control ice growth on surfaces and polymers
The successful use of ice-binding proteins (IBPs) to develop anti-icing surfaces requires a comprehensive understanding of their working mechanism when introduced in environments distinct from the protein's natural setting. This study systematically addresses this aspect by investigating how IB...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Applied Surface Science Advances |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666523925000984 |
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| author | Laura Hoebus Miisa J. Tavaststjerna Santiago J. Garcia |
| author_facet | Laura Hoebus Miisa J. Tavaststjerna Santiago J. Garcia |
| author_sort | Laura Hoebus |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The successful use of ice-binding proteins (IBPs) to develop anti-icing surfaces requires a comprehensive understanding of their working mechanism when introduced in environments distinct from the protein's natural setting. This study systematically addresses this aspect by investigating how IBPs control ice accretion when grafted onto an aluminum alloy using polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers of various lengths and on the polymer backbone of a PEG hydrogel matrix. Freezing experiments monitored through thermal imaging reveal that the degrees of freedom of the proteins significantly influence their functionality. Specifically, we demonstrate that when the degrees of freedom of anti-freeze proteins (AFPs) are restricted by their functionalization on surfaces using short linkers or when they are present in restricted volumes in polymers, they behave as ice-nucleating proteins (INPs) promoting ice accretion. In conditions where their degrees of freedom are enhanced (long linkers, water-rich environment), AFPs effectively inhibit ice nucleation and propagation. The work underlines the relevance of protein mobility as a so far unforeseen key design factor needed to fully benefit from the potential use of natural or synthetic AFPs grafted on surfaces for cryopreservation of biological samples and the design of next-generation low-icing surfaces and coatings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c79b23c6b9334b329e566abd08d0f97f |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2666-5239 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Surface Science Advances |
| spelling | doaj-art-c79b23c6b9334b329e566abd08d0f97f2025-08-20T03:03:01ZengElsevierApplied Surface Science Advances2666-52392025-08-012810079010.1016/j.apsadv.2025.100790Mobility of antifreeze proteins as a key factor in their use to control ice growth on surfaces and polymersLaura Hoebus0Miisa J. Tavaststjerna1Santiago J. Garcia2Department of Aerospace Structures and Materials, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS, Delft, The NetherlandsDepartment of Aerospace Structures and Materials, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS, Delft, The NetherlandsCorresponding author.; Department of Aerospace Structures and Materials, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Kluyverweg 1, 2629 HS, Delft, The NetherlandsThe successful use of ice-binding proteins (IBPs) to develop anti-icing surfaces requires a comprehensive understanding of their working mechanism when introduced in environments distinct from the protein's natural setting. This study systematically addresses this aspect by investigating how IBPs control ice accretion when grafted onto an aluminum alloy using polyethylene glycol (PEG) linkers of various lengths and on the polymer backbone of a PEG hydrogel matrix. Freezing experiments monitored through thermal imaging reveal that the degrees of freedom of the proteins significantly influence their functionality. Specifically, we demonstrate that when the degrees of freedom of anti-freeze proteins (AFPs) are restricted by their functionalization on surfaces using short linkers or when they are present in restricted volumes in polymers, they behave as ice-nucleating proteins (INPs) promoting ice accretion. In conditions where their degrees of freedom are enhanced (long linkers, water-rich environment), AFPs effectively inhibit ice nucleation and propagation. The work underlines the relevance of protein mobility as a so far unforeseen key design factor needed to fully benefit from the potential use of natural or synthetic AFPs grafted on surfaces for cryopreservation of biological samples and the design of next-generation low-icing surfaces and coatings.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666523925000984Anti-icingIce-binding proteinsAnti-freeze proteinsIce adhesionBioinspiredFunctional coatings |
| spellingShingle | Laura Hoebus Miisa J. Tavaststjerna Santiago J. Garcia Mobility of antifreeze proteins as a key factor in their use to control ice growth on surfaces and polymers Applied Surface Science Advances Anti-icing Ice-binding proteins Anti-freeze proteins Ice adhesion Bioinspired Functional coatings |
| title | Mobility of antifreeze proteins as a key factor in their use to control ice growth on surfaces and polymers |
| title_full | Mobility of antifreeze proteins as a key factor in their use to control ice growth on surfaces and polymers |
| title_fullStr | Mobility of antifreeze proteins as a key factor in their use to control ice growth on surfaces and polymers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mobility of antifreeze proteins as a key factor in their use to control ice growth on surfaces and polymers |
| title_short | Mobility of antifreeze proteins as a key factor in their use to control ice growth on surfaces and polymers |
| title_sort | mobility of antifreeze proteins as a key factor in their use to control ice growth on surfaces and polymers |
| topic | Anti-icing Ice-binding proteins Anti-freeze proteins Ice adhesion Bioinspired Functional coatings |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666523925000984 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT laurahoebus mobilityofantifreezeproteinsasakeyfactorintheirusetocontrolicegrowthonsurfacesandpolymers AT miisajtavaststjerna mobilityofantifreezeproteinsasakeyfactorintheirusetocontrolicegrowthonsurfacesandpolymers AT santiagojgarcia mobilityofantifreezeproteinsasakeyfactorintheirusetocontrolicegrowthonsurfacesandpolymers |